My mating holes are now more parameterized. I have also redone some of the hole wizard sketches, so they now reference other parts. With a little practise it is super-easy! All my bolts are inserted now. In the last few hours I have used the toolbox to insert the bolts. Even the ballscrew+nut, and rail+bearing-blocks, etc, are thier own assembly with proper mates. This is a model of a moving table cnc-machine, the two table axis are a single sub-assembly, then the Z-axis assembly. I was already going top down hierarchy with assembies, sub-assemblies, and parts. I have gone through a lot of my assemblies and I have made a lot of headway in the last few hours. I have very little rebuild errors ever, and I let none persist. Now I do mind my mates carefully and keep my sketches properly defined.
So I am beginning to rethink revisiting cross part relations and perhaps my initial trouble was more user error and my incompetance using parametric design. On the flip side, having relations accross parts certainly helps make, for example, mounting plates where the mounting holes can be changed easily and changes cascade via relations.
At first, I used this, but at some point I stopped because it seemed to cause a lot of trouble. One other question if I may: Do you create many parts within the assembly itself, thus having relations to existing parts in the assembly. Kind of changed my opinion at that point! I didnt see it in the model because it was within the machine but collision detection and probably myself would have noticed if I had placed the bolts. Then when I built the machine I realized two of my parts interfered because of the bolt heads. I will use the toolbox and place them myself.ĭareBee: I can think of one advantage to placing the bolts! Up until now I was mating without bolts for the same reason you state. I thought maybe I was missing something with the smart fasteners. I agree, the bracket linking is more important to me. Thanks for the direction, Aley and DareBee.